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With the rise of the profitable sugar-cane industry in the Caribbean and coastal colonies such as Louisiana, machetes became widely used on sugar plantations throughout the region, and as such were easily acquired by both Adéwalé and Aveline in areas where slavery was prominent.[1][2]

Adéwalé found his first machete shortly after washing ashore in Port-au-Prince, Saint Domingue, and promptly used it to cut down an overseer chasing after an escaped slave. Throughout his travels, Adéwalé would eventually come to own a number of machetes, varying in lethal capability and appearance, which he used frequently in combat. These blades were larger and broader than a normal machete, making them ideal for attacking overseers and soldiers alike, and were stored in a sling across Adéwalé's back when not in use.[2]

In the French territory of Louisiana, Aveline de Grandpré would occasionally use a specialized sugar-cane machete in combat. This wider, heavier weapon could be displayed openly while Aveline was in her slave disguise without arousing any suspicion. A longer, more streamlined machete was also available for purchase at any general store in New Orleans.[1]